Lights, camera, action. The stage is set in Las Vegas for Cinemacon 2023. Day one included a jam-packed slate from Sony with a bunch of surprises.
Cashing in on GameStop
Managing director Mitch Neuhauser stepped on the stage and promised the crowd that what we would see is beyond belief. And I’m happy to say Sony delivered on that promise. The first film highlighted is Dumb Money. Director Craig Gillespie and star Paul Dano introduce the story based on the events of the GameStop phenomenon. The opening of the film was shown, and this cast is stacked! Seth Rogen, Shailene Woodley, Sebastian Stan, and Nick Offerman are just a few of the stars headlining the film. And just from the introduction, I’d say there is Oscar potential.
A Haunting First Look
Up next is probably one of the most anticipated horror films of the year, Insidious: The Red Door. If the trailer for this keeps you up at night, I’m more afraid of how the actual film will play on your emotions. The best part, the entire original cast is back for this installment. So horror fans buckle up because this looks like one crazy ride.
Marvel Swings to the stage
Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse is probably the most anticipated animated film this year. To introduce a 14-minute clip from the film were its stars, Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, and new addition Issa Rae. Some shots were still being worked on, but it was cool to see. I love the process of animation, and seeing clips not quite finished makes the film’s actual release more spectacular. That being said, the scenes that were finished were absolutely stunning! The colors are beautiful, and from what was used, the soundtrack may rival its predecessor.
Kraving an R-rated Marvel Movie?
Staying in the Marvel universe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson introduced the first trailer for Kraven the Hunter. Are you wondering if the film will be rated R? He has an answer for you, and it’s “F*** yes, it will be rated R!” Let’s just say it lives up to that promise. The trailer is bloody and brutal. One scene includes Kraven biting a guy’s nose off and spitting it at the camera. So be prepared for gore in all its glory.
Hilarious and Crude
It feels like Sony is really trying to deliver more R-rated content because Kraven isn’t the only film being hyped up with that rating. Sony has two upcoming comedies that promise crude humor. Jennifer Lawrence introduced an exclusive clip from her new film No Hard Feelings, showing an awkward attempt to seduce Andrew Barth Feldman, who hilariously acted like a spider desperately trying to crawl away from water circling a drain. Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell gave an exclusive preview of their R-rated romantic comedy Anyone But You. The film, shot in Australia, looks absolutely hysterical.
Gearing Up for Another Game Adaptation
Playstation Productions has had quite a year adapting their video games into live action. Gran Turismo, their newest venture stars Orlando Bloom and David Harbour. You may be wondering how can they produce a story from a racing game. Well, the story is based on the true story of a gamer turned race car driver. And I gotta say the trailer alone looks like one hell of a fun ride.
Honoring Denzel
Denzel Washington was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. He took a moment to thank the audience, saying, “We would be nothing without you all. What we do means nothing if you’re not there. We’re here for you and because of you.” He then welcomed Dakota Fanning to the stage to introduce the first trailer for the final chapter of the Equalizer franchise. Again, it seems that Sony is really trying to hype up how many R-rated films they have on their upcoming slate. This trailer is filled with gruesome fights and bloody brawls as Washington expertly takes out enemies one by one.
Historically Epic
To finish off the presentation, Sony and Apple Original Films are partnering on Ridley Scott’s Napolean. Earlier in the presentation, Sony proudly stated their stance on in-theater releases. To hold on to that promise, Napolean will release only in theaters worldwide this Thanksgiving. The film will be released on Apple TV+ at a later date. Judging by the first scene ever shown, you’ll want to see this one on the big screen. As Sony stated, Ridley Scott is one of the few directors that can pull off a film of this scale using in-camera effects. They went on to say that minimal use of CGI will be used in this movie. Right off the bat, we are shown Joaquin Pheonix as Napoleon getting the high ground on his enemies. From this scene alone you can tell this will be one beautifully shot movie. The in-camera visuals of a ruthless icy battlefield are stunning and will have you holding your breath.
Sony has quite a variety of films on its 2023 slate. From family-friendly to 18+, there is something for everyone.